Chapter 30
THE AGENT
CHLOE
On a Monday
“Good afternoon, Miss Sterling.” Sarah smiled at me as I stepped off the elevator. “You’re a bit late for the ceremony.”
“What ceremony?”
“Funny.” She waved a hand. “The mayor approved The Holden project this morning. The press and the zoning officials are all in the boardroom…Didn’t Mr. Hudson call you?”
“Maybe I missed it…”
“Well, don’t miss out on the cake and champagne,” she said. “I had it flown in from Napa Valley.”
“Noted. Thank you.”
I walked down the hall and rounded the corner, just in time to catch photogs snapping pictures inside the boardroom as Dante shook hands with the mayor.
Smiling, I pushed my way through the chairs to get a closer look.
I was feet away when I spotted the mockup of The Holden standing at the center of the room.
Stopping in utter confusion, I did a slow double take.
This proposal looked nothing like the one Dante had shown me earlier.
Gone were the open parks and tree-lined walkways, along with the community center and the affordable residential wings. The public rooftop gardens with custom statues and beautiful benches were paved over in exchange for a private pool and row of cabanas.
The Holden now reflected another cold and soulless glass tower wrapped in black steel and private entrances—another billionaire monument that looked exactly like every other Hudson property in Manhattan.
What the hell?
My stomach dropped as the guests sipped from champagne flutes and devoured Empire State cupcakes. I circled the model again and again, as if one of my spins would magically transform it into what it used to be.
By the time the last executive left the room, Dante was loosening his tie by the window and flashing a smile he didn’t deserve.
“Good afternoon, Chloe.” He looked over at me. “Did you enjoy the cake?”
“You honestly think I want to talk about cake right now?” I scoffed, pointing at the mockup. “What happened to the community center and affordable condos wing?”
“Those things didn’t make it to the final drafting stage.”
“Since when?”
“Since three days ago,” he said.
“I was with you three days ago.” I looked up. “We’ve been together all freakin’ weekend.”
“And?”
“Don’t you think you should’ve told me about this?” I asked. “Like, out of us becoming close?”
“No. Which is why I didn’t. I prefer this version, and since it’s my money, I don’t have to ask permission from anyone.”
“So, our relationship means nothing to you?”
“I wasn’t aware we had a relationship…”
“Seriously?” I swallowed. “Then what the hell are we?”
“Two people who ended up in each other’s orbits due to extremely comical circumstances,” he said. “We also have sex and spend time together.”
“That’s literally the definition of a relationship, Dante.”
“Maybe in your dictionary.”
“I don’t appreciate you changing the mockup without telling me, and I would appreciate you putting it back before any of the residents who’ve been cheering you on see it.”
“I’ve invested hundreds of millions in making the residents happy,” he said. “I think they’ll be okay if I focus on making money for myself again.”
“So, you’ve learned absolutely nothing after all this time?”
“All this time?” He glared at me. “I’ve known you for what—a few months at best?”
“Yes.”
“And you honestly think that means I owe you something?”
“It means you promised to consider something that would be in everyone’s best interests, including mine.”
“I did consider it,” he said. “The answer is no, and contrary to what you think, the old model doesn’t do much for me at all. It won’t make as much money.”
“Because you’re in desperate need of more of that?” I hissed. “You’re already a fucking billionaire.”
“And I intend to keep it that way.” His voice was terse. “I didn’t get here by giving money away.”
“You got here by ripping people off, making shady-ass deals, and being selfish as hell.”
“Get off your high horse, Chloe,” he said. “You’re starting to think that you’re the one who has more morals between us…”
“I do.”
“Oh?” He arched a brow. “Wasn’t your shady-ass thievery what landed you on my radar?”
I said nothing.
“Exactly,” he said. “Now, please join me back in reality and focus on the work ahead that needs to be done.”
I stood still, staring at him, hoping that this was a bad dream.
“The engineers have already received my proposed updates, but they’re wary about the lobby, so I need you to—”
“Fuck you.” I pushed his fancy mockup to the floor, shattering it to pieces. “Fuck. You.”
He clenched his jaw, looking at the damaged pieces before looking at me.
“You have ten seconds to start picking all that up.”
“Okay.” I stepped back. “Let me know what happens when I don’t.”
“You’ll realize just how fucking little you matter to me,” he said. “You’re taking a business proposition and making it personal.”
“No, that’s what you just did…” I slung my purse over my shoulder and stormed out of the room.
Rushing toward the stairwell, I ran down the first two flights of steps.
A small part of me hoped he would follow—to apologize for being so cruel and beg me to return, but no footsteps echoed. The doors above didn’t creak open.
I continued the long way down, ignoring the tears pricking my eyes.
“You’ll realize just how fucking little you matter to me…”
“Ready to head home, Miss Sterling?” One of Dante’s drivers tipped his head at me when I emerged from the side door. “Traffic isn’t too bad now.”
“I’m okay, thank you.” I barely managed. “I’d rather walk home.”
“Are you sure about that, Miss Sterling?”
“Yes.” I turned away before he could pull me back into Dante’s world for another second.
When I made it to the stoplight, my phone sounded in my purse.
Dante
Come back up here. Now.
If I have to call you, we’re going to have a problem.
Chloe…this isn’t a game. I’ve PAID you for work you still owe me.
I WILL sue you…
I changed his name to “Never Answer Again,” but I knew that wouldn’t be enough.
And he’s the one who bought me this phone…
Sighing, I moved under a coffee shop’s awning and sent all the pictures to my personal cloud.
The moment the screen flashed with “complete,” I tossed the phone down the drain.